Kwara PDP demands full disclosure of govt house secretariat project cost
…Accuses Governor AbdulRazaq of Misplaced Priorities Despite U.S. Embassy’s Criticism of Wasteful Governance
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to publicly disclose the contract sum for the new office project being constructed within the Government House premises in Ilorin.
In a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP described the project—which the government has termed “new offices”—as a misplaced priority and a betrayal of the trust reposed in the administration by the people of Kwara.
The opposition party expressed concern over the governor’s refusal to make public the financial details of the project, which it alleged may be a conduit for diverting public funds.
“This government’s unwillingness to disclose the contract sum only fuels suspicion that the project is a self-serving venture designed to benefit political allies at the expense of the suffering masses,” the statement read.
The PDP linked the project to a recent report by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, which condemned some state governors for investing heavily in luxurious buildings rather than addressing poverty, education, health, and economic empowerment.
The party said it was disappointing that Governor AbdulRazaq, despite his role as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), chose to ignore such international criticism.
“As Chairman of the NGF, Governor AbdulRazaq ought to lead by example in promoting accountability and people-focused governance. But instead, he has embarked on a secretive project that offers no clear benefit to the public,” the PDP said.
The party also questioned the rationale behind awarding the project to what it called “politically connected outsiders,” arguing that many competent local contractors in Kwara were overlooked.
According to the PDP, the construction of a single-storey building should not warrant the sidelining of qualified indigenous contractors, especially at a time when local businesses need government support.
The opposition party said the project stands in sharp contrast to the pressing needs of ordinary Kwarans, who continue to grapple with decaying infrastructure in schools, hospitals, and roads, as well as growing insecurity in both urban and rural communities.
It also criticized the government’s attempt to downplay the controversy by rebranding the project as “new offices” rather than a “new government house,” dismissing it as a play on words.
“If the intent behind the project is noble and necessary, why is the cost being hidden from the very people whose taxes are funding it? Why did the U.S. Embassy label such projects as wasteful and misplaced priorities?” the PDP queried.
The party concluded that the new office project is not only a deviation from the Otoge movement’s promises but also an insult to the intelligence and needs of Kwarans.
